Mechanical separator



Dec. 2, 1930. w. M. cooK 7 5 MECHANICAL SEP-ARATOR Filed Dec. 25. 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 1' JPT gr I a o m a I o v (I v j 2 m 5 0 3/ I; 1 x v 2y rInfleniar;

Dec. 2, 1930. w. M. cOoK MECHANICAL SEPARATQR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 23', 1929 orne Dec. 2, 1930. w. M. COOK MECHANICAL SEPARA'I'ORFiled Dec. 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE WALTER u. coon or LUDLOW, vmmoNr, AssreNon T0 INTERNATIONALcoMBusrroN ENGINEERING COBPORA'IION, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE MECHANICAL, sErAnA'ron Application filed December as, 1929.Serial No. 416,050.

This inventionrelates to' certain new and useful improvements inmechanical separators, and more particularly to improvements in thattype of separator in which the finely dividedmaterial to be graded isprojecte, preferably by centrifugal force, across the path of a risingair current which picks up and carries away in suspension only the finerparticles, whereas the heavier particles gravltate out of the'air streaminto a collecting means.

This invention contemplates an improved means for insuring theseparation, from the rising air stream of all of the heavier particlesof materia To accomplish this result-a rotary deflecting member or,whizzer is mounted on a central vertical axis the separation chamberand above the distributor so as to cut across the annular rising airstream. This rotary deflector comprises a multiplicity of substantiallyradial blades or vanes the central portions of which are connected by anapron or covering plate so the air stream, outwardl that air passagesremain only between the outer portions of the vanes.

of he vanes closely abut a conical deflecting member thatext'endsupwardl and inwardly so as to overlap the outer en s of the vanes.

The rotating vanes throw any heavier particles of .the material that maytend to rise in against the inclined lower surface of ti from which theycarom do Wardly,at the sides of the chamber and join the heaviermaterial that initially gravitates out when thrown from the-distributor.The onlymae terial that canrise above these cooperating I deflectingmembers is sufiiciently fine to be r carried in suspension in the risingair stream 40- which finds its way between the rapidly rotatingdeflector blades.

Above the deflecting members, and lietween them and the fanwhichiactuate's the rising air stream, is an inwardly extending annularpartition wall which compels the air laden with finely divided materialto flow inwardly, or counter to. the outward throw imparted bycentrifugal force to the material in the'rotat'ing air. stream before itenters the fan chamber. 'g -This permits acfinalxaction The outer endsof centrifugal force on any relatively heavy partlcles that may findtheir way up into this inwardly flowing portion of the air stream,

forcing: heavier material particles out of the air stream.

Another object is to provide adjustable means for forcing the air streamto follow a circuitous path in opposition to the path in which materialparticles areimpelled by centrifugal force.

' Another object is to provide animproved deflecting. means comprising arevolvin member having a close central portion an an outer portionconsisting of a multiplicity of radial'vanes with intervening airspaces, in combination witha deflector ring partially overlapping theouter end portions of the vanes in opposition to the pathof air-flowbetween the vanes. r

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed descript on of one improved ng to form ofapparatus constructed accor the'prinq'ples of this invention. I In theaccompanying drawings:

f Fig. 1 is an elevation of the improved separator, the right-handportion being shown in central vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a central verticalsection thrdugh I the upper portion of theseparator on a larger scale. V Fig. 3 is aplanview, the lower portionbeingbroken away-substantially on the line 3.3 of Fig; 1.

Fig.4 is an inverted horizontal section, taken substantially. onthe'line 44"of Fig, 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sect-ion showing a modified form ofdeflector. Y

Fig. 6 is another partial vertical section showing a modified mountingfor the stationary deflector.

The separator housing comprises-a suitably supported outer casingconsisting of a top wall 1, an upper cylindrical shell 2, and a lowerconical shell 3 converging to the bottom discharge opening 4: throughwhich the finely divided material separated out by this air separationprocess is delivered. An inner casing, positioned symmetrically aboutthe same central vertical axis as the outer casing but spaced inwardlytherefrom comprises an upper annular cover plate 5, an upper cylindricalshell 6, and a lower downwardly converging conical portion consisting ofthe two overlapping conical shells 7 and 8. A discharge spout 9 leadsout through one side of the outer conical shell 3 so as to discharge theheavier particles collected by the inner conical shell 8. The innershell constructidn is spaced from the outer casing by means of aplurality of spaced radial brace members 10 or other suitable struts orsupports.

The movable portion of the separator comprises a rotating assemblymounted on the central shaft 11 which is positioned to rotate about thecentral vertical axis of the separator housing. The upper portion ofthis shaft 11 has a hearing at 12 in the sleeve 13 formed on the bearingplate 14 mounted centrally in the top wall 1 of the housing. The lowersection of a gear casing 15 is formed on bearing sleeve 13, and theupper section 16 of this gear case carries a roller bearing 17 in whichthe upper end portion 18 of shaft 11 is journaled. A bevel gear 19 iskeyed on the upper portion of shaft 11 and meshes with and is driven bythe bevel pinion-20 keyed on the inner end of drive shaft 21, supportedin bearings 22 and 23 on the top of the housing and driven from any 1outside source of power in any suitable manner as by means of the gearor pulley indicated at 24. A d-ownwardly projecting hearing sleeve 25secured to plate 14 carries the roller thrust bearing 26 in which theintermediate portion of shaft 11 is journaled, and a suitable packingmeans indicated at 27 serves to keep dust or finely divided materialfrom the separator from working its way into the bearings.

A spider 28 secured to the lower portion of shaft 11 serves to supportthe circular horizontal distributing plate 29, and a hollow rotatablehousing consisting of the lower cylindrical member 30 and the upperdownwardly converging conical member 31. A spout 32 mounted in coverplate 1 projects downwardly into the'upper rotating conical housing 31,and the ground or pulverized material that is to be separated is pouredin through spout 32 from which it passes through the rotating housingmembers 31 and 30 and is deposited on the rapidly rotating distributingdisc 29 from which it is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force throughthe open radial pas sages 33. A fan consisting of a plurality ofradially extending blades 34 carried externally by the upper rotatingconical housing 31 serves to keep up a circulation of air within theseparator housing as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, there being arising air current within the upper portion of the inner casing, and anoutwardly and downwardly flowing air current in the space between theinner and outer casings, the air current passing back into the innercasing through a plurality of openings 35 between the overlapping upperand lower inner conical casing members 7 and 8.'

As is usual in separatorsof this type, the material introduced throughspout 32 and thrown outwardly by the centrifugal distributing plate 29is diffused across this rising air current within the inner casing. Onlythe lighter and finer particles are carried upwardly by the rising aircurrent created by fan 34, the heavier materials gravitating downwardlythrough the inner casing and being collected by the lower cone 8 anddischarged through outlet pipe or spout 9. This initial separationprocess is not sufficient to completely withdraw all of the heavierparticles of material and secure the desired grade of fineness in thematerial eventually discharged by fan 34 into the outer casing 2, andthe particular improvements of this in vention relate to novel means,positioned be- .tween the distributing disc 29 and fan 34,

for removing more completely the heavier material particles from therising air stream.

A rotary deflector or whizzer comprises a multiplicity of rather longnarrow blades or vanes 36 anchored at their inner ends as at 37 to therotary cylindrical casing member 30 and extending outwardly along radiallines toward the cylindrical shell6 of the inner casing. A great numberof these vanes 36 maybe used, the number depending upon .several factorssuch as the speed of rotation of the rotatable assembly, the diameter ofthe rotatable deflector and somewhat on the degree of fineness requiredin the separation process. Preferably there will be more than eight ofthese blades 36, and a great many more may be used. Cooperating withthis rotary deflector is an annular stationary deflector carried by thesurrounding inner walls of shell 6, this deflector comprising anupwardly and inwardly extending conical shell 38 and an inwardlyextending horizontal ring or flange 39 which overlap the outer endportions of the vanes 36. The outer ends of the vanes 36 (in theformshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive) are beveled inwardly and upwardlyas indicated at 40 so as to extend closely adjacent the inner wall ofconical deflector 38. The inner ortions of the vanes or blades 36 arecovered by and connected by nular partition comprising a pluralityofsimilar overlapping plates 43 adapted to be separately adjustedinwardly or outwardly by means of the rods 44 which may have their outerends threaded as at 45' and engaged in nuts 46. Fixed guide pins 47mounted in supporting ring 5 project through guide slots 48 adjacent theedges of each pair of overlapping plates, whereby the plates are held.in place and are permitted individual adjustment inwardly andoutwardly.

The purpose of this partition, which comprises an adjustable inwardextension of' the cover plate or ring 5, is to cause the air streamafter passing through the passages 42 in the rotary deflector to flowinwardly toward the center of the separator before passing upwardlythrough annular "space 49 into the fan chamber 50. By making the innerdiameter of the partition adjustable, the rate of air flow may beregulated.

In operation, the material deposited on the rapidly rotatingdistributing plate 29 will be thrownoutwardly by centrifugal force, asalready described, and the heavier particles will immediately settleout, only the lighter material being carried upwardly I by the risingair stream towards the rapidly rotating deflector 36. As soon as theheavier particles in this rising air stream are caught by the revolvingblades 36 they will be carried around by these blades and thrownoutwardly by centrifugal force against the under surface of thestationary deflector 38, 39 from which they will be thrown downwardly tojoint the other heavier particles that have already separated out andare collected in the inner cones 7 and 8 and discharged through spout 9.The central apron41 prevents the passage of any materials through theinner portions of the rotating blades which are not traveling at as"great a linear speed, and the only material that is carried above thesecooperating deflector members is the very fine material thatimay becarried in the air stream passing through spaces'42 between the outerportions of the vanes 36.

It will be noted thatafter this air stream has passed above thedeflector members just described, it is compelled by the annularpartition consisting of cover plate 5. and adjust-- able plate 43, toflow inwardly or toward the I center of. the separator, and inopposition to the centrifugal force applied to the suspended material inthe whirling air stream, before passing upwardly through. annular space49 into the fan chamber. The resultis that any relatively heavyparticles that may possibly find their Way upwardly throughthe passages42 in the rotary deflector will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal forcefrom thisinwardly flowing air stream and will be deposited as indicatedat 51 above the stationary,

deflector 39, 40, from which osition they will gradually dribbleor'settle ack through the rotary deflector by means of which they arethrown against the lower surface of the stationary deflector plate 38and thence are thrown down so as to settle out with the heavierparticles, as already described.

In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 6, the deflector "cone 38is supported from the casing 6 by any suitable type of brackets orstruts 54, so that a narrow annular space 55 remains between the outerlower edge of the cone and casing 6. The heavier material thrown abovethe cone 38 by centrifugal force] will settle down through passage 55into the inner collecting cone.

The result is that only the very finest ma terial is carried up by theair stream into the fan chamber and thence thrown out by the fan throughupper passage 52- and down through annular passage 53 between the innerand outer casings. This fine material will to a large .extent settle outfrom the slowly moving air stream and will be collected by the lowerouter cone 3 and. discharged through opening {at the bottom thereof. Theair stream flows Qqack through passage 35 .into the inner caslng andthence upwardly through inner cone 7 to carry more fine material insuspension upwardly throughfithe separating devices.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the

outer conicaldeflector 56 and inwardly extending flange 57(corresponding to the parts 38', 39 previously described) are carried bythe outer end portions of the rotating dflec tor vanes 36, instead of bythe fixed casing 6. A small annular clearance space 58 will remainbetween the lower outer edge of conical deflector 56 and the inner wallofcasing 6.

The operation of this form of the invention is essentially the same asthat of the first described apparatus. The material thrown outwardly bythe rotatin vanes 36wil1 be deflected downwardly by t e conicaldeflector 56, which is also rotating in this form of the invention.Material that is thrown out above the deflecting members will settleback .through the narrow passage 58 between coniouter ends of the rotarydeflector blades and in close proximity thereto, so that the materialthrown outwardly by the rotary deflector is positively caught anddeflected downwardly and absolutely prevented from being carriedupwardly by the rising air stream. The only rising air currents in whichmaterial may be carried in suspension bers, as already describedhereinabove.

I claim:

1. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an-upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annulardeflector cooperating with and overlapping the outer portion of therotary deflector for throwing material downwardly within the casing.

2. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annularstationary deflector carried by the casing and overlapping thecircumferential portion of the rotary deflector.

3. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary di tributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annularstationary deflector carried by the casing and overlapping thecircumferential portion of the rotary deflector, there being an annularseries of passages through the outer portion of the rotary deflectoradjacent the stationary deflector.

4. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annularstationary deflector carried by the casing and comprising an upwardlyand inwardly inclined conical portion overlapping the outer portion ofthe rotary deflector.

5. In a separator comprising a casing, a'

rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward airflow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor,said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radiallyextending vanes, and an annular conical deflector ex tending inwardlyand upwardly over the ends of the vanes and adjacent the inner wall ofthe casing.

6. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflectorcomprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, andan annular stationary deflector carried by the casin and including aninwardly extending flange overlapping the outer ends of the rotaryvanes.

7. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflectorcomprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes withtheir outer ends beveled in wardly and upwardly, and an annular conicaldeflector carried by the casing and projecting inwardly above thebeveled end por-- tions of the vanes.

8. In a separator comprising a casing, a ro tary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflectorpositioned above the dis tributor, said deflectorcomprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes withtheir outer ends beveled inwardly w and upwardly, and an annular conicaldeflector carried by the casing and projecting inwardly above thebeveled end portions of the vanes, there being an inwardly extendingflange projecting from the smaller end of the cone over the upper outerportions of the vanes. Y

9. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing,cooperating closely overlapping relatively movable deflecting memberspositioned above the distributing member for throwing heavy particles ofmaterial outwardly and then deflecting them downwardly within thecasing.

10. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and non-rotary meanspositioned above and beyond the outer edge portion of the rotarydeflector but closely-adjacent thereto for deflecting materialdownwardly within the casing.

11. In a separator, comprising a casing, a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflectorcomprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, asubstantially circular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanesso that passages remain only between the outer portions thereof, and anannular conical deflector extending inwardly and upwardly over thedistributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantiallyradially extendm ing vanes, a substantially circular apron connectingthe inner portions of the vanes so that passages remain only between theouter portions thereof, the outer ends of the vanes being beveledinwardly and upwardly, and an annular conical deflector carried by thecasing and projecting inwardly above the beveled end portions of thevanes.

13. In a se arator comprising a casing, a rotary distri uting membertherein, and

26 means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotarydeflector positioned above the distributor, said deflector comprising amultiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, a substantiallycircular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes so thatpassages remain only between the outer portions thereof, the outer endsof the vanes being beveled inwardly and upwardly, and an annular conicaldeflector carried by the casing and projecting inwardly above thebeveled end portions of the vanes, there being an inwardly extendingflange projecting from the smaller end of the cone over the upper outerportions of the vanes.

14, A separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lowercollecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding theinner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of theinner-casing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positionedcentrally within the casings and comprising a lower distributing discand an upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through theinner casing and downwardly through the outer casing, means for feedingmaterial to be separated to the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on therotary assembly between the distributing disc and fan and proj ectingoutwardly adjacent the wall of the in- 0 ner casing, and an inwardly andupwardly projecting conical deflector carried by the inner casing andoverlapping the outer portion of the rotary deflector.

15. A separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lowercollecting portion, a

similarly shaped outer casing surrounding the inner casing in spacedrelation thereto, the upper portion of the inner casing housing a sep- 7aratin chamber, a rotary assembly positioned 1 centra 1y within thecasings and comprisin a lower distributing disc and an up er fan 0causing an air circulation upwar 1y throu h the inner casing anddownwardly through t e outer casing, means for feeding material to beseparated 'to the disc,., a rotary deflector mounted on the rotaryassembly between the distributing disc andfan and projecting outwardlyadjacent the wall of the inner casing, said deflector comprising amultiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes the outer ends ofwhich are beveled upwardly and inwardly, and an inwardly and upwardlyprojectingconical deflector carried by the inner casing and overlappingthe beveled ends of the vanes.

16. A separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lowercollecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding theinner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the'innercasing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positionedcentrally within the casings and com;- prising a lower distributing discand an upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through theinner casing and downwardly r through the outer casing, means forfeeding material to be separated to the disc, a rotary deflector mountedon the rotary assembly between the distributing disc and fan andprojecting outwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casing, saiddeflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extendingvanes the outer ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, acircular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes, and aninwardly and upwardly projecting conical deflector carrier by the innercone and overlapping the beveled ends of the vanes.

17. separator comprising an inner cas ing having a conical lowercollecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding theinner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the innercasing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positionedcentrally within the casings and comprising a lower distributing discand. an upper fan. for causing an air circulation upwardly through theinner casing and downwardly through the outer casing, means for feedingmaterial to be separated to the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on therotary assembly betweenthedistributing disc and fan and projectingoutwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casing, said deflectorcomprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, theouter ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, a circular apronconnecting the inner portions of the vanes, and an inwardly and upwardlyprojecting conical deflector carried by the inner cone and overlappingthe beveled'ends of the vanes, there beingan inwardly extending annularflange at theupper end of the conical deflector close- 1y overlying thevanes in. substantially-the same plane as the apron so as to leave acircular series of air assages between the vanes and between the umeredge of the flange and the outer edge of the apron.

18. A separator comprising an inner casing having. a conical lowercollecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding theinner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the in nercasing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positionedcentrally within the casings and comprising a lower distributing discandan upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through the innercasing and downwardly through the outer casing, means for feedingmaterial to be separatedto the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on therotary assembly between the distributing disc and fan and projectingoutwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casing, said deflectorcomprising a multiplic ity of substantially radially extending vanes,the outer ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, a circularapron connecting the inner portions of the vanes, and an inwardly andupwardly projecting conical deflector carried by the inner cone andoverlapping the beveled ends of the vanes. and an annular deflectingpartition projecting inwardly over the apron between the deflector andfan to compel an inwardly directed air flow above the deflectors inopposition to the centrifugal force of the rotating parts.

'19. A. separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lowercollecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding theinner casing in spaced relaner casing housing a separating chamber, arotary assembly positioned centrally within the casings and comprising alower distributing disc and an upper fan for causing an air circulationupwardly through the inner casing and downwardly through the outercasing, means for feeding material to be separated to the disc, and aplurality of overlapping rotary and stationary deflectors carried by therotating assembly and inner cone respectively and positioned between thedistributing disc and fan for compelling the upwardly flowing air tofollow a circuitous path.

21. In a separator comprising a casing. a rotary distributing membertherein, and means for causing an upward. air flow in the casing, arotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflectorcomprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, andan annular conical deflector mounted on the end portions of the vanesand extending inwardly and upwardly over these end portions, the lowerouter edge of the conical deflector extending into close proximity tothe inner wall of the casing.

WALTER M. COOK.

tion thereto, the upper portion of the inner casing housing a separatingchamber, a rotary assembly positioned centrally withinv the casings andcomprising a lower distributing disc and an upper fan for causing an aircirculation upwardly through the inner casing' and downwardly throughthe outer casin'g','means for feeding material to be separated to thedisc, a rotary deflector mounted on the rotary'assembly between thedistributing disc and fan and projecting outwardly adjacent the wall ofthe inner casmg, said deflector comprising a multiplicity ofsubstantially radially extending vanes, the outer ends of which arebeveled upwardly and inwardly, a circular apron connectng the innerportions of the vanes, and an inwardly and upwardly projecting conicaldeflector carried by the inner cone and overlapping the beveled ends ofthe vanes, and an annular deflecting partition comprising a plurality ofradially adjustable overlapping plates whereby the inner diameter of thepartition can be adjusted in size project-.

. in'g inwardly over the apron between the defiectors and fan to compelan inwardly directed air flow above the deflectors in opposition to thecentrifugal force of the rotating parts.

. 20. A separator comprising an inner casmg having a conical lowercollecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing sur-.

rounding the inner casing in spaced relat1on thereto, the upper portionof the in

